The man accused of launching a pair of deadly assaults on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand made his first court appearance Saturday. While interpretation of Islamic law regarding burials varies, burying a person as soon as possible after death is a fundamental principal of Islam, usually no more than 24 hours later.

A video live-streamed by him on Facebook showed him rapidly firing what appeared to be hundreds of bullets at his defenseless victims using various weapons.

Two other people were in custody and police said they were seeking to understand whether they were involved in any way.

In a statement posted online, Sunday, police said officers were continuing to work "closely and extensively with partners to identify the injured and deceased victims of the Christchurch attack".

One of the images most widely shared on social media in solidarity with New Zealand is a cartoon of a kiwi, the country's national bird, crying. Officials say forty-one people died at the Al Noor Mosque, and seven were killed at the Linwood Mosque, a 10-minute drive away.

Questions have been raised about why Tarrant had not appeared on a watchlist of New Zealand or Australian security agencies.

In response to the attacks, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern described the massacre as a "terrorist attack" at a news conference, saying: "These are people who I would describe as having extremist views that have absolutely no place in New Zealand and in fact have no place in the world".

Ardern said Tarrant was a licensed gun owner who bought the five guns used in the crimes legally.

She called the mass shooting "an extraordinary act of violence", and vowed "our gun laws will change". Story continues after video. Residents were mandated to turn in their semi-automatic rifles and other now-outlawed weapons. Ardern suggested "now is the time for change" and hinted she was closely looking at rules regulating ownership of semi-automatic weapons. Three people are in custody over the mass shootings.

Leaders around the world expressed sorrow and disgust at the attacks, with some deploring the demonisation of Muslims.

On Saturday, the White House said U.S. Vice President Mike Pence spoke with New Zealand's Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters on Friday to express condolences for "the despicable terror attacks". Police told her that he is not among the 49 fatalities.

He said the Fijian people stood with their Pacific family in this time of suffering and sadness, and we condemn all forms of hatred and terror.

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